Transition chute

ABSTRACT

A transition chute directs tobacco from a tobacco feeder to a pair of pneumatic feed pipes and is designed to prevent choking when tobacco is conveyed through only one or both of the pipes. The chute includes a top section of decreasing cross-sectional area from top to bottom and a lower section connected thereto. The lower section defines a pair of spaced parallel pipe sections at its base for connection to the feed pipes. The lower section cooperates with the top section in providing a venturi effect which eliminates tobacco choking of the chute passageways.

U ted States ie :1:

Carwile l ll Aug. 27, 1974 TRANSITION CHUTE Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examinerl-ladd Lane [75] Inventor. Paul Carwlle, Colonial Hts, Va. Attorney, g or Firm pinnegan, Henderson [73] Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Farabow & Garrett Corporation, Louisville, Ky. 22 Filed: Sept. 13, 1972 [571 ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 288,569

[52] US. Cl. 302/28 [51] Int. Cl. 865g 53/04 [58] Field of Search 302/28; 222/330; 285/155 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,91 L543 5/1933 Bailey 302/28 2,995,404 8/196] Bodner 302/28 A transition chute directs tobacco from a tobacco feeder to a pair of pneumatic feed pipes and is designed to prevent choking when tobacco is conveyed through only one or both of the pipes. The chute includes a top section of decreasing cross-sectional area from top to bottom and a lower section connected thereto. The lower section defines a pair of spaced parallel pipe sections at its base for connection to the feed pipes. The lower section cooperates with the top section in providing a venturi effect which eliminates tobacco choking of the chute passageways.

9 Clains, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIED M32 1 I924 MHINE FIG. 3

FIG. 4

TRANSITION CHUTE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transition chute designed for use with the pneumatic feeder disclosed in commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 288,497, filed on even date herewith and entitled Pneumatic Feeder for Plural Maker Systems.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a transition chute of the foregoing type which eliminates clogging or choking of the chute passageways during operation when directing tobacco into one or both feed pipes of the associated pneumatic feeding system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic tobacco feeder incorporating the transition chute at its discharge end in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the transition chute of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. I, the transition chute of the present invention is shown associated with the discharge end of a pneumatic feeder l2 and the inlet end of a pair of spaced parallel main tobacco feed pipes 140 and 14b. Each pipe 14a and 14b is directed to a bank or line of cigarette making machines in the process of manufacturing a particular brand of cigarettes. When there is a demand for tobacco by any of the cigarette making machines, tobacco will be directed thereto through the main feed pipe 140 or 14b that is coupled with the demanding making machine.

The feeder I2 is of the type disclosed in the above referenced pending patent application and is designed to operate at two speeds in feeding tobacco into the transition chute 10. When tobacco is required in only one of the pipes 140 and 14b, the feeder 12 operates at a lower speed. On the other hand, when tobacco is re quired to be fed through both pipes 140 and 14b because of demanding cigarette making machines, the feeder 12 operates at a higher speed.

The transition chute 10 of this invention has been engineered and designed to prevent clogging or choking of its passageways by the tobacco and particularly the feeder speed changeswhen experiencing a transition from high to low incident to a corresponding demand change for cigarette tobacco to be conveyed through the pipes 114a and 14b.

The transition chute 10 includes a top section 16 and a bottom or lower section 18 which cooperate in providing or generating a venturi effect upon the tobacco being conveyed in an effort to minimize if not eliminate choking of the chute passageways. The top section 16 includes a top 20 and a bottom 22, with a peripherally extending bracket 24 being located at the top to facilitate connecting the chute 10 to the discharge end of the feeder 12. The top section 16 is defined by front wall 26, back wall 28 and a pair of opposed downwardly converging side walls 30 and 32. As will be appreciated from the drawings, the walls at the top section 16 define rectangular cross-sections of decreasing size from top to bottom. Magnet 34 is provided on the front wall 26 to collect any metallic foreign material passing through the chute 10.

The lower section 18 of the chute 10 includes a top 36 extending from the bottom 22 of the top section 16. The bottom 38 in the form of an elbow of the lower section 18 defines a pair of spaced parallel pipe sections 40 and 42 which are adapted to be coupled with the feed pipes 14a and 14b respectively by the respective connecting collars 44 and 46. The lower section 18 above the bottom 38 is defined by a front wall 48, a back wall 50 and a pair of downwardly divergent side walls 52 and 54; these walls defining rectangular cross sections from top to bottom.

It has been found that as a result of the narrowed throat between the top section 16 and lower section 18 and the particular design and configuration of the chute 10, the tobacco travels through the lower section 18 at increased speed which eliminates build-up of tobacco at the non-demanding pipe 14a or 1412 as the case may be when there is a demand for tobacco through only one of the pipes. This eliminates any blocking, clogging or choking of tobacco at this location. In other words, the throat between the top section 16 and bottom section 18 contributes to the relative cleanliness and freedom of tobacco at the non-calling side of the chute 10. In addition, the tobacco being fed by the feeder 12 from time to time is in lump form. The throat produces a venturi effect serving as a throttle which aids in breaking up these lumps, thereby giving even distribution without compaction of the tobacco within the chute 10. The venturi also contributes to the maintenance of the tobacco in relatively loose form should any be present at the non-calling side of the chute 10. As will be appreciated, any build-up and particularly compaction of this build-up of tobacco will cause choking of the tobacco at this location within the chute 10.

Thus, the several aforenoted objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single, somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A transition chute for direction tobacco discharged by a feeder assembly to one or both of a pair of pneumatically operated feed pipes, said transition chute comprising:

a. an inlet end section having front, rear and-side walls defining a first passageway having a first transverse dimension at the bottom thereof, b. an outlet end section connected to said inlet end section said outlet end section having an upper portion comprising side, front and rear walls extending downwardly from the respective walls of the upper section, said inlet end section defining a single passageway and an elbow portion comprising extensions of said side, front and rear walls of the upper portion, said walls of the elbow portion extending in part forwardly from a vertical plane parallel with and through the front wall of the inlet section at the bottom thereof to a discharge side, said outlet end section defining a second single passageway extending downwardly from said first passageway and then bending forwardly beyond said vertical plane, the outer bend of said elbow portion defining a wall means for receiving the tobacco fed through the second passageway and on which said tobacco can accumulate when the supply of tobacco through the feed pipes as ceased, the upper portion of said second passageway having a transverse dimension increasing downwardly to a second transverse dimension greater than said first transverse dimen sion, whereby there will be an accumulation of to bacco on the rear wall of the elbow portion upon cessation of air flow, and

c. pipe sections operatively connected to said feed pipes and said outlet end section on the discharge side of the elbow portion thereof, dividing said second passageway into two conduits forward of said vertical plane and providing communication between said pipes and the second passageway, said pipe sections being in juxta-position transversely of said second passageway, the cumulative diameters of said pipe sections being generally equal to said second transverse dimension of the second passageway, said pipe sections receiving tobacco from the outlet end section for passage to the feed pipes whereby an air current through the outlet end section sweeps laterally from each side to remove said accumulation of tobacco from either side of the elbow portion to the opposite pipe section upon activation of the vacuum in said pipe section.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper inlet end section has four walls having a top and bottom said walls being inclined in a converging manner and define a rectangle in section of decreasing size from top to bottom.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the outlet end section above the pipe sections is defined by a front and back wall and opposed side walls which together define a rectangle in section, the front and back walls being narrower at the top than the bottom and the side walls being narrower at the bottom than the top.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein connecting means connect one-pipe section to one of the feed pipes and the other pipe section to the remaining feed pipe.

5. A transition chute as recited in claim 1 wherein the lower passageway portion of the first passageway is positioned above said wall means and centered relative to the dividing point of said second passageway as defined by the junction of said pipe sections whereby tobacco falling through said chute will accumulate to the maximum at the junction of said pipe sections.

6. A transition chute as recited in claim 5 wherein the inlet end section comprises front and back walls, said front wall being on the side of said chute from which the pipe sections extend, said inlet section defines in cross sectional area, a top larger opening and a bottom smaller opening, said bottom opening being centered transversely of said chute but offset toward the back wall of said inlet end section.

7. A transition chute as recited in claim 1 wherein the inlet end section defines a first passageway having a cross-sectional area of decreasing dimension downwardly to said transverse dimension.

8. A transition chute as recited in claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the outlet end section is comprised of front, back and a pair of side walls, said front and back walls being inclined forwardly relative to vertical planes through the front and back sides of said first passageway respectively at the bottom of said inlet end section.

9. A transition chute as recited in claim 8 wherein the back wall is inclined forwardly at a greater angle from said vertical plane than the forward inclination of the front wall.

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE fiERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 832 004 Dated August 27 1974 Invent fls) Paul Carwile It. is certified that error appears 1d the above-idem; ified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:-

Col. 2 olaim 1, line 1, change "direction" to directing Col. 4, claim 7, line 4 thereof, after "said" insert Signed and sealed this 5th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents "ORM PO-105O (10-69) USCQMM-DC B0376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PR NTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334 

1. A transition chute for direction tobacco discharged by a feeder assembly to one or both of a pair of pneumatically operated feed pipes, said transition chute comprising: a. an inlet end section having front, rear and side walls defining a first passageway having a first transverse dimension at the bottom thereof, b. an outlet end section connected to said inlet end section said outlet end section having an upper portion comprising side, front and rear walls extending downwardly from the respective walls of the upper section, said inlet end section defining a single passageway and an elbow portion comprising extensions of said side, front and rear walls of the upper portion, said walls of the elbow portion extending in part forwardly from a vertical plane parallel with and through the front wall of the inlet section at the bottom thereof to a discharge side, said outlet end section defining a second single passageway extending downwardly from said first passageway and then bending forwardly beyond said vertical plane, the outer bend of said elbow portion defining a wall means for receiving the tobacco fed through the second passageway and on which said tobacco can accumulate when the supply of tobacco through the feed pipes as ceased, the upper portion of said second passageway having a transverse dimension increasing downwardly to a second transverse Dimension greater than said first transverse dimension, whereby there will be an accumulation of tobacco on the rear wall of the elbow portion upon cessation of air flow, and c. pipe sections operatively connected to said feed pipes and said outlet end section on the discharge side of the elbow portion thereof, dividing said second passageway into two conduits forward of said vertical plane and providing communication between said pipes and the second passageway, said pipe sections being in juxta-position transversely of said second passageway, the cumulative diameters of said pipe sections being generally equal to said second transverse dimension of the second passageway, said pipe sections receiving tobacco from the outlet end section for passage to the feed pipes whereby an air current through the outlet end section sweeps laterally from each side to remove said accumulation of tobacco from either side of the elbow portion to the opposite pipe section upon activation of the vacuum in said pipe section.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper inlet end section has four walls having a top and bottom said walls being inclined in a converging manner and define a rectangle in section of decreasing size from top to bottom.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the outlet end section above the pipe sections is defined by a front and back wall and opposed side walls which together define a rectangle in section, the front and back walls being narrower at the top than the bottom and the side walls being narrower at the bottom than the top.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein connecting means connect one pipe section to one of the feed pipes and the other pipe section to the remaining feed pipe.
 5. A transition chute as recited in claim 1 wherein the lower passageway portion of the first passageway is positioned above said wall means and centered relative to the dividing point of said second passageway as defined by the junction of said pipe sections whereby tobacco falling through said chute will accumulate to the maximum at the junction of said pipe sections.
 6. A transition chute as recited in claim 5 wherein the inlet end section comprises front and back walls, said front wall being on the side of said chute from which the pipe sections extend, said inlet section defines in cross sectional area, a top larger opening and a bottom smaller opening, said bottom opening being centered transversely of said chute but offset toward the back wall of said inlet end section.
 7. A transition chute as recited in claim 1 wherein the inlet end section defines a first passageway having a cross-sectional area of decreasing dimension downwardly to said transverse dimension.
 8. A transition chute as recited in claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the outlet end section is comprised of front, back and a pair of side walls, said front and back walls being inclined forwardly relative to vertical planes through the front and back sides of said first passageway respectively at the bottom of said inlet end section.
 9. A transition chute as recited in claim 8 wherein the back wall is inclined forwardly at a greater angle from said vertical plane than the forward inclination of the front wall. 